Electric lantern



June 17, 1930.

E. sTRoKE ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed Dec. 9, 1926 E. "jira/le.

Patented June 17, 1930 PATENT OFFICE EDGAR STROKE, OF Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA ELECTRIC LANTERN Application led December 9, 1926. Serial No. 153,627.

This invention relates to a lantern especially adapted for use in and about railroad yards and embodying an incandescent electric lamp, reflectors, a storage battery, and a switch for 5 controlling the connection between the lamp and battery.

The inventionhas for one. of its objects to provide a lantern of the character stated wherein the reflectors shall be of such con- 10 struction and so relatively arranged as to enable the provision of a comparatively bright light from a lamp of comparatively low power consumption.

A further object of the invention is to pro-A 15 vide a lantern of the character stated where-` in the storage battery shall be of the type having a semi-solid electrolyte and wherein provision shall be made for the recharging of the battery without removing it from the lantern.

A further Object of the invention is to provide a lantern ofthe character stated which shall embody a construction adapted to prevent the short circuit-ing of the switch or the short circuiting of the terminals of the battery by water.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure .1 is a view in side elevation ot an electric lantern embodying my invention,

VFigure2 is a sectional view taken on a plane extending` vertically and centrally through the lantern,

Figure 3 is a switch,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken On'the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig- 40 ure 3, and

Figure 5 is a detail view ot a slight modiication of the lamp.

Referring in detail, to the drawing, in the several views of which like reference characters denote like parts, 1 designates the base, 2 the globe, 3 the cap, and 4 the globe guard O the lantern. A wire stand 5 is secured to the base 1, and a bail 6 is pivoted to the guard 4.

The lantern is provided with a horizontally disposed concave reflector 7 which is is in either Otits on or oli positions.

detail sectional view of the carried by the upper end of the conical top wall 8 of the base 1, and an inverted conical reflector 9 which is located above and axially alined with reflector 7. The reflector 9 is secured to the cap 3. A socket 1() is carried by the reflector 7 for the reception of an incandescent electric lamp 11 of low power 'consumption One end of the filament of the lamp 11 is electrically connected to the wall 8, and the other end of the lilament is electricaL 53 ly connected to the spring strip 12 which is .arranged within the base 1 and issecured to one of the lateral walls of the base by a lbolt 13. A storage battery 14.is .arranged within the base 1 and'is of that type hav- I.

Aing a semi-liquid electrolyte. The negative terminal 15 of the storage battery 14 is connected to the wall 8 by a lead 16, and the positive terminal 17 of the storage battery is connected to a switch 18 by a lead 19. The "70 switch 18 is slidably mounted in a slot 2O formed in the base 1 below the bolt 13, and

vis adapted to be moved into and out of con tact with thelower end of the strip 12. This `end oithe strip 12 extends belowthe bolt 13 .75

which is insulated from the base 1 by a bushing 21. The switch 18 comprises a body 18a of insulating material which is mounted in the slot 2O and provided at its inner end with a strip 18 which closes the slot when the switch 80 The body 18a is provided at its Outer end with a head or knob 18c to permit it to be readily moved into on or oli position. The switch 18 also comprises a metal block 18d which is se'- 85 cured to the strip 18b and which has its inner face inclined to permit it to be readily moved into contact with the lower end of the strip 12. The switch 18 is held against casual movement by a learp spring 22 which is mount- 9@ ed on the body 18EL between the base -1 and head vor knob18b and which contacts at its free ends with the base. The storage battery 14 is held out of contact withv the lower end of the strip 12 by a bracket 23. The side wall 95 24 of the base 1 is removably secured in place to permit the application and removal of the storage battery 14. The wall 24 is provided with knuckles 25 and the top and bottom walls oit' the base 1 with knuckles 26 for the *10 reception of pins 27 through the medium of which the wall 24 is secured in place. The wall 24 isyprovided with an opening 28 in alinement with the positive terminal 17 of 5 the storage battery 14 so as to permit the storage battery to be recharged without removing it from the base l.l A covea29 which 1 1- .y y t is pivoted as at 30isV provided .for the opening 28 and is adapted to be maintained in position to close the opening by gravity.

When the lamp 11 isfburnmg; the rays therefrom are directed by the deflector 7 onto the reflector 9 which directs them radially in all directions from thelantern. The con- 15 struction and relative arrangement of the rellectors are such as to produce a comparatively Y bright light from a lamp ofcomparatively low power consumption. As the lamp 11 is of low power consumption the storage battery 14 will last'.v for a comparatively long time, and due thereto the lamp may be kept lit for any desired or required length of time. As the slot 20 and opening 28 are always closed, and

' as the bottom wall of the 4base 1 is supported 25 by the base 5 out of contact with any wet surface on which the lantern may be placed, vthere is no danger'of water accum in the base 1 and shorticircuiting the switc or the battery. The lamp is of simple and inexpensive constructi, and it may be maintained in operation at small cost. To prevent the wall 24 from short circutingthe battery terminals 15 and 17, a strip of insulation 24n is secured to this wall'against the vati innerside thereof. v;

As shown inFigure 5 the lantern may be provided with a white lamp--ll and a red lamp 11, and when it is rovided with these v lamps it will be provide with ytwo switches 40 so that either may be lit as conditions require.

An electric lantern comprising a metallic base having an elongated'slot therethrou h, a spring conductor arranged within, the ase,

insulating means securing the conductor. adj arcent one of its ends to the base, said means spacing'said end of the conductor from said wall, said end extending be ond said means and in spaced relation tosaidyba, an insulat- 'ing memberwithin the base covering said slot at all times and having an -element'passing through said slot and slidably ,associatedy with the base, and a metal contact block within the base carried by said member and movable thereby into and out ofcontaet with-said conductor end. f

In testimony whereof I aiix m si attire.A

L EDGAR R KE. 

